Stirring the pot on medical marijuana

Wednesday

Jan 29, 2014 at 12:01 AMJan 29, 2014 at 1:00 AM

Phil Gianficaro Columnist @philgianficaro

For physicians who took an oath to heal the sick, the conflict is understandably paralyzing.

For example, a patient with a chronic condition such as multiple sclerosis complains to his Pennsylvania doctor that his prescription medications are ineffective and cause debilitating side effects. Also, the tingling, numbness, muscle spasms and muscle pain in the arms and legs have become unbearable, and decreased appetite is taking its toll.

The compassionate doctor listens. He exhales in frustration, knowing marijuana has been shown to alleviate such symptoms. But because medical marijuana isn’t legal in the commonwealth, as it is in 20 states and the District of Columbia, he doesn’t broach the subject.

“Medical marijuana is not presently an option, and I’ve not discussed it with patients,” said Dr. Lee Harris, a neurologist who oversees the multiple sclerosis center at Abington Memorial Hospital. “There are a limited number of medications that are well-tolerated. But my view is, if we have an occasion to add a medication to treating pain, one that’s well-tolerated and will alleviate pain, we ought to make it available.”

Harris expressed his support for medical marijuana during a teleconference Tuesday morning that was organized by the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Michael Fraser, the society’s executive director, said that until further research clearly demonstrates its safe and effective use in patient care beyond any reasonable doubt, his organization doesn’t recommend marijuana for medical use in Pennsylvania.

Five physicians throughout the state shared their views on medical marijuana during the teleconference shortly before the state Senate Law and Justice Committee conducted a hearing on Senate Bill 1182, which would allow Pennsylvania residents with chronic and/or terminal medical conditions to receive medical marijuana. Named the Gov. Raymond Shafer Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, its passage would establish a cannabis board, approve nonprofit compassionate care centers and create a medical cannabis identification card system.

Harris cited research that suggests the benefits of medical marijuana far outweigh potential side effects. Those studies contrast the Federal Drug Administration’s assertion that marijuana has no medical use, leading to the FDA’s classification of it as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Should cannabis be reclassified as a Schedule II drug, it would likely facilitate clinical research and development of cannabis-based medicines and alternative delivery methods.

“Marijuana alleviates chronic pain and stiffness and pain in MS patients,” Dr. Harris said. “There are studies that show medical marijuana should be made available to patients whose medicines don’t help.”

While members of Congress are gathering signatures from colleagues on a letter to be delivered to President Obama asking him to reconsider marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I drug, Dr. Eric Rupard, an oncologist at Reading Hospital, cited the need for further research.

“The belief of most physicians is that any substance that may have therapeutic value should be fully investigated to see the efficacy and side effects,” Rupard said. “The strange thing is, research around medical marijuana, either for political reasons or fear, has been very scant and not rigorous.”

A doctor on the teleconference who didn’t give his stamp of approval to medical marijuana was Pittsburgh-based psychologist Tony Stile. An addiction specialist, Stile noted that 9 percent of marijuana users become addicted, compared to 15 percent of alcohol drinkers, and said the psychological impacts of medical marijuana are more severe for youths. He questioned whether medical marijuana is being used as it was intended in the states where it’s legal. He also questioned the level of quality control and lack of research on various types of the drug.

I’ve conducted my own research on the efficacy of marijuana from speaking to folks with chronic conditions such as MS, muscular dystrophy, cancer and Crohn’s disease. I’ve learned that the little green plant that finally seems to be shedding its scarlet letter is a miracle drug. Marijuana eases their pain where prescription drugs cannot.

Last year, I spoke to a 36-year-old Burlington County, N.J., resident whose body was riddled with pain from multiple sclerosis. Because New Jersey’s medical marijuana program was lagging in implementation, the man had his son buy marijuana on the street for him.

And so he goes to the street. Perhaps medical marijuana will someday become law. Until then, the little green plant that may substantially improve a chronically ill patient’s quality of life remains a ring buoy floating in a pool of relief.

A pool where the law warns, “No Swimming Allowed.”

Phil Gianficaro can be reached at 215-345-3078, pgianficaro@calkins.com or @philgianficaro on Twitter.

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